The Rehearsal

Jean Anhouilh’s The Rehearsal is a tale of sexual intrigue set in a French chateau in the fifties. It tells the story of a group of decadent French aristocrats who rehearse and perform an 18th century Marivaux play in an atmosphere of conspiracy and lust reminiscent of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

It is a complex play to design as the characters start in a rehearsal for an 18th century play and then change into fifties clothes, before performing the ‘play within a play’ in full 18th century dress.

Jasper Conran dressed the characters in a range of extravagant 18th century outfits that emphasized the play’s dark comedy. The result was a stunning collection of clothes in wonderful textures and shapes which earned him the Laurence Olivier Award for Costume Designer of the Year in 1991.

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